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A 69-year-old woman sustained progressive proptosis for 2 months. The patient had undergone surgery for resection of colon cancer 10 years prior, which was considered to have been completely cured 5 years prior. She was also aware of a hard mass in her left breast, but it had been left untreated. Furthermore, she experienced back pain for a month. Blood examination revealed an elevated level of serum carcinoembryonic antigen, at 17.4 ng/mL (< 5). Computed tomography (CT) revealed a tumor occupying the superolateral part of the right orbit, with intratumoral calcifications and destructive changes in the lateral orbital wall. On magnetic resonance imaging, it appeared as a heterogeneously enhancing, extraconal tumor, 44 mm × 31 mm in maximal dimension, extending into the middle fossa and the adjacent subcutaneous region. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT revealed abnormal accumulation in the left breast, T12 vertebra, liver, and lung, in addition to the orbital tumor. The patient underwent total tumor resection through a lateral orbitotomy. Histological examination of the tumor was highly suggestive of a metastatic colon cancer. Late metastasis should be assumed as a differential diagnosis that can be determined only through histological verification.

A 6-month-old, previously healthy boy presented with poor feeding and vomiting for 2 weeks. At presentation, his left supraorbital vein was found to engorge considerably. A cranial computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large cyst in the posterior fossa with a prominent left superior ophthalmic vein (SOV). Magnetic resonance imaging delineated the well-demarcated cyst markedly compressing the right cerebellar hemisphere. The patient underwent microscopic fenestration of the cyst wall through lateral suboccipital craniotomy. The cyst wall, comprising multi-layered, opacified membranes, was extensively resected and communicated with the prepontine cistern. The histological appearance of the cyst wall was consistent with an arachnoid cyst. Engorgement of the left supraorbital vein resolved immediately after surgery. A postoperative CT scan did not identify the SOV in the left orbit. In the present case, engorgement of the supraorbital vein might reflect the increased venous pressure of the SOV caused by compression of the contralateral cerebellar hemisphere.

Calvarial erosion is an infrequent manifestation associated with oligodendrogliomas, astrocytomas, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors, astroblastomas, glioblastomas, and meningiomas. Anaplastic ependymoma (AE), a rare malignant form of ependymoma, commonly results in poor prognosis. During the last 12 years, six patients were diagnosed with supratentorial ependymomas. All of them were AEs with extraventricular location identified in the right parietal, left parietal, and left frontal lobes, respectively. Three of them, 7-, 15, and 17-year-old male patients, presented focal calvarial erosion with smooth contour. Calvarial erosion may be a diagnostic hallmark of supratentorial AEs.

Dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) of the anterior cranial fossa is an aggressive entity with a high risk of intracranial hemorrhage. A 38-year-old woman presented to our institution with nasal obstruction and discharge. Computed tomography (CT) scans performed for suspected sinusitis revealed erosion of the crista galli predominantly on the left side. The frontal and ethmoidal sinuses adjacent to the crista galli were clear and did not communicate with the crista galli. Contrast computed tomography scans revealed ectatic vessels adjacent to the crista galli, coursing on the cortical surface. Cerebral angiography identified an anterior fossa dAVF supplied by the bilateral anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries and drained by the dilated cortical veins. Based on these findings, we assumed that long-term compression by the pulsatile draining veins caused the erosion. The patient underwent successful microsurgical disconnection procedure of the dAVF with an uneventful postoperative course. We concluded that external erosion of the crista galli could be a sign of aggressive dAVF and requires careful examination.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is often accompanied by metabolic disorders such as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Heat shock response (HSR) is one of the most important homeostatic abilities but is deteriorated by chronic metabolic insults. Heat shock (HS) with an appropriate mild electrical stimulation (MES) activates HSR and improves metabolic abnormalities including insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and inflammation in metabolic disorders. To analyze the effects of HS + MES treatment on NAFLD biomarkers, three cohorts including healthy men (two times/week, n = 10), patients with metabolic syndrome (four times/week, n = 40), and patients with T2DM (n = 100; four times/week (n = 40) and two, four, seven times/week (n = 20 each)) treated with HS + MES were retrospectively analyzed. The healthy subjects showed no significant alterations in NAFLD biomarkers after the treatment. In patients with metabolic syndrome, many of the NAFLD steatosis markers, including fatty liver index, NAFLD-liver fat score, liver/spleen ratio and hepatic steatosis index and NAFLD fibrosis marker, aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio, were improved upon the treatment. In patients with T2DM, all investigated NAFLD steatosis markers were improved and NAFLD fibrosis markers such as the AST/ALT ratio, fibrosis-4 index and NAFLD-fibrosis score were improved upon the treatment. Thus, HS + MES, a physical intervention, may become a novel treatment strategy for NAFLD as well as metabolic disorders.

Arachnoid cysts arising in the quadrigeminal cistern (ACQCs) are uncommon. A 68-year-old woman presented with an unsteady gait, facial spasm, and cerebellar ataxia. Non-contrast head computed tomography showed a cystic mass centered in the quadrigeminal cistern accompanying ventriculomegaly. On MRI, the cyst appeared hypointense on T1- and hyperintense on T2-weighted sequence. There was no restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging. The cerebral aqueduct was obstructed and the prepontine cistern was narrowed. The left vertebral artery (VA) coursed adjacent to the facial nerve at its origin. The patient underwent neuroendoscopic fenestration of the posterior wall of the third ventricle and ventral wall of the ACQC. Postoperatively, the patient's symptoms resolved. MRI showed a considerable reduction in the ACQC and expansion of the prepontine cistern, whereas the relationship between the left VA and the proximal segment of the facial nerve did not change. We assumed that the pre-existing close relationship between the VA and facial nerve might have been aggravated by the anterior displacement of the brainstem, thus causing the facial spasm.

A 6-month-old, previously healthy boy hit the right frontal region of his head against the corner of a plastic toy box. At presentation, a small area with scalp discoloration was noted in the right frontal region. Head computed tomography at the level of discoloration revealed an intracranial hematoma, 5 mm in maximal thickness, below the coronal suture. In addition, there were bony bridges connecting the frontal and parietal bones. Furthermore, a linear crack was found in the diploe of the frontal bone in contact with the coronal suture. Cerebral MRI confirmed linear hyperintensity between the inner tables. We assumed that a kind of ping-pong ball fracture was caused by the head blow, centering on the coronal suture, resulting in rupture of contacting diploic channels and tear of the dura mater, and forming a subdural hematoma. Acute subdural hemorrhage may be caused by an insignificant blow to the coronal suture in infantile patients with underdeveloped cranial bones and sutures, accompanied by subtle external findings.

Heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) is a major inducible molecule in the heat shock response that enhances intracellular stress tolerance. Decreased expression of HSP72 is observed in type 2 diabetes, which may contribute to the development of insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. We used HSP72 knockout (HSP72-KO) mice to investigate the impact of HSP72 on glucose metabolism and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, particularly in the liver. Under a high-fat diet (HFD) condition, HSP72-KO mice showed glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion, and enhanced hepatic gluconeogenic activity. Furthermore, activity of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) was increased and insulin signaling suppressed in the liver. Liver-specific expression of HSP72 by lentivirus (lenti) in HFD-fed HSP72-KO mice ameliorated insulin resistance and hepatic gluconeogenic activity. Furthermore, increased adipocyte size and hepatic steatosis induced by the HFD were suppressed in HSP72-KO lenti-HSP72 mice. Increased JNK activity and ER stress upon HFD were suppressed in the liver as well as the white adipose tissue of HSP72-KO lenti-HSP72 mice. Thus, HSP72 KO caused a deterioration in glucose metabolism, hepatic gluconeogenic activity, and β-cell function. Moreover, liver-specific recovery of HSP72 restored glucose homeostasis. Therefore, hepatic HSP72 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

Penetrating head trauma (PHT) includes any traumatic injury where an object pierces the skull and breaches the dural membrane surrounding the brain. PHTs are less prevalent than blunt head injuries. However, they often have more complex damage, worse prognosis, and higher rates of morbidity and mortality. An 83-year-old man fell at his home and hit his head on the right side toward a shoji (a Japanese-style paper sliding door). He reported to the emergency room the following day with his family. He had a small wound before the right ear, which was sutured in the emergency room. A CT scan demonstrated tiny pieces of bone fragments inside the brain, as well as right temporal subcortical hemorrhage and pneumocephalus. He was admitted to the hospital and received intensive prophylaxis with antibiotics. He developed life-threatening skin disease and subsequent acute kidney disease requiring hemodialysis. He fully recovered from his life-threatening condition. Here, we report an unprecedented case of a penetrating head injury of an older adult caused by a shoji.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and have been shown to participate in almost every cellular process. Several miRNAs have recently been implicated in glucose metabolism, but the roles of miRNAs in insulin-resistant conditions, such as obesity or type 2 diabetes, are largely unknown. Herein, we focused on miR-222, the expression of which was increased in the livers of high fat/high sucrose diet-fed mice injected with gold thioglucose (G+HFHSD). Overexpression of miR-222 in primary mouse hepatocytes attenuated Akt phosphorylation induced by insulin, indicating that miR-222 negatively regulates insulin signaling. As per in silico analysis, miR-222 potentially binds to the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the IRS-1 gene, a key insulin signaling molecule. In fact, IRS-1 protein expression was decreased in the livers of G+HFHSD-fed mice. We further confirmed a direct interaction between miR-222 and the 3' UTR of IRS-1 via luciferase assays. Our findings suggest that up-regulation of miR-222 followed by reduction in IRS-1 expression may be a viable mechanism of insulin resistance in the liver.

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and one of the major mediators of obesity-induced insulin resistance. TNFα is generated through TNFα converting enzyme (TACE)-mediated cleavage of the transmembrane precursor pro-TNFα. Inhibition of TACE resulted in the improvement in glucose and insulin levels in diabetic animals, suggesting a crucial role of TACE activity in glucose metabolism. However, the regulation of TACE activity in insulin-sensitive tissues has not been fully determined. This study aimed to investigate the impact of TACE in insulin-sensitive tissues in the early stage of the development of obesity. C57BL6 mice were fed standard chow (B6-SC) or high-fat/high-sucrose diet (B6-HF/HS). KK-Ay mice were fed SC ad libitum (Ay-AL) or fed reduced amounts of SC (caloric restriction (CR); Ay-CR). As control for Ay-AL, KK mice fed SC ad libitum (KK-AL) were used. TACE activity in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), but not in liver or skeletal muscle, was significantly elevated in B6-HF/HS and Ay-AL compared with B6-SC and KK-AL, respectively. Phosphorylation of JNK and p38MAPK, but not ERK, in VATs from B6-HF/HS and Ay-AL was also significantly elevated. Ay-CR showed significantly lower TACE, JNK and p38MAPK activities in VAT and serum TNFα level compared with those of Ay-AL. In contrast, intraperitoneal injection of TNFα activated TACE, JNK and p38MAPK activities in VAT in KK mice. In conclusion, during the development of obesity, TACE activity is elevated only in VAT, and CR effectively reduced TACE activity and TACE-mediated pro-TNFα shedding in VAT.

The age-related incidence of spontaneously occuring neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions in untreated F-344/Jcl rats, used as controls in carcinogenicity testing, were studied from the histological examination of tissues from 469 males and 354 females. The incidence of spontaneous tumors was 83.2% in the males and 71.2% in the females. The most common neoplasms were leukemia (males : 24.3%, females : 24.0%), pituitary adenoma (males : 16.0%, females : 45.2%), pheochromocytoma (males : 14.7% females : 7.3%, testicular interstitial cell tumor (males : 79.1%), and uterine endometrial stromal polyp(females : 16.4%). The incidence of other tumors of almost all the organs and/or tissues was low. Non-neoplastic lesions generally increased with advancing age of the animals.